A’s versatile Ladendorf unleashes potential in many forms

Updated 2:57 pm, Thursday, March 26, 2015

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Over the winter, the A’s traded for the ultimate utility player, every-position specialist Ben Zobrist. They might have another such versatile virtuoso coming up in their own system.

Tyler Ladendorf is starting to make a name for himself after a long trip through the minors that included a suspension for testing positive for a “drug of abuse” last season. Obtained from the Twins in 2009 for Orlando Cabrera, Ladendorf, 27, finally made it onto the A’s 40-man roster during the winter.

Ladendorf has played all over this spring — four games at shortstop, five at second base, four at third base, six in center field, six in left, one in right — and has looked good at each spot. He’s getting plenty of playing time because he can be plugged in almost anywhere and is among the team’s top hitters this spring — 10 for his past 26, and he entered Wednesday tied for fourth in Cactus League RBIs with 11.

“This is the type of guy we like,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s athletic, he can run a little bit. … Based on what kinds of injuries we have at the end of the spring, he’s certainly a guy who potentially has a chance to make the team. He really increases our depth. I don’t know too many guys who are as versatile as he is. You look at Ben Zobrist and this guy can play a lot of the positions Ben can.”

Perhaps his amateur career was an indication that Ladendorf might have some unique abilities. Growing up in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Ill., he quickly realized he wasn’t NBA bound — the other kids in his neighborhood were dunking. So he played football (wide receiver/cornerback) and hockey at West Maine High School.

Ladendorf, still a Blackhawks fan, loved the speed of hockey. He played left wing and, despite throwing and batting right-handed in baseball, shoots a hockey puck left-handed, like a Canadian or European player rather than most U.S. players.

Tyler Ladendorf (25) is congratulated by manager Bob Melvin after scoring on a wild pitch.

Tyler Ladendorf (25) is congratulated by manager Bob Melvin after scoring on a wild pitch.

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

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Versatile Tyler Ladendorf, acquired in 2009 from the Twins, appeared to have stalled at Double-A Midland before finally breaking through at Triple-A last season.

Versatile Tyler Ladendorf, acquired in 2009 from the Twins, appeared to have stalled at Double-A Midland before finally breaking through at Triple-A last season.

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

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Tyler Ladendorf warms up with a soccer ball at Hohokam Stadium early in spring training.

Tyler Ladendorf warms up with a soccer ball at Hohokam Stadium early in spring training.

Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

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A’s versatile Ladendorf unleashes potential in many forms

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A torn labrum his junior year meant an end to football and hockey, and Ladendorf went to community college in Texas for two years, despite being drafted by the Yankees in 2006 and the Giants in 2007. He went to the Twins in the second round in 2008, and the A’s traded for him the next summer.

Ladendorf was basically stuck at Double-A Midland for three seasons, 2011-13, usually the sign of a career stall-out. He didn’t hit much those years but was getting valuable experience moving around the diamond thanks to manager Steve Scarsone, who needed another outfielder one day because of injuries.

“Steve has been my manager for five out of six years, and he trusted me enough to put me in the outfield and knew I wasn’t going to embarrass him,” Ladendorf said. “I made a play late in the game, a diving catch, and showed I could do it.”

“I don’t know if it was Tyler’s body mechanics or his ability to adjust, but he has a good sense for reading the groundball, reading the flyball, so that didn’t have to be learned; it was more just getting experience at different positions,” Scarsone said. “And he was able to do that in a short time and put it into practice.”

Ladendorf spent last season at Triple-A Sacramento, where he hit .297 in and around his suspension. He doesn’t discuss his failed drug test in any detail, but he certainly learned from it.

“There’s no doubt, looking back on that event, that I can say I’m a better person for it,” Ladendorf said. “Unfortunately, it shouldn’t have taken an event like that to have that maturing process happen. But it’s a matter of trying to be more professional. Mentally, at times, I was my own worst enemy. Once I turned that corner, I was able to open some eyes.”

“There was a time there that Tyler was letting some of his personal stuff carry over into games, but it was just a maturity thing,” Scarsone said. “He just became committed to the game.

“I would never say a suspension would be a positive, but he joined us after that and got off to a great start, and it kind of confirmed for him the dedication to the game he’d shown the past few years was paying off,” Scarsone said. “He went from wondering 'Can I do this?’ to 'I can do this.’ And at that point, he hit the ground running.

“He’s become a very well-rounded ballplayer, and his attention and his work habits show. I’m really proud of him.”